In a recent twist to the ongoing debate surrounding former President Donald Trump's claims about a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, another California official has come forward with a vivid account of a harrowing flight experience alongside Trump. Nate Holden, a former longtime Los Angeles city councilman and state senator, recounted the terrifying ordeal that unfolded during a helicopter ride in 1990 from Manhattan to Atlantic City.

Holden, now 95 years old, vividly recalls the midday flight that took an alarming turn when the hydraulic system suddenly failed, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in New Jersey. Contradicting Trump's claim that the incident involved Willie Brown, Holden maintained that he was the one who had shared the terrifying flight with the former president.

Holden expressed disbelief that Trump could have confused the two men, describing himself as "the short Black guy from Northern California" while Brown is noted as "the tall Black guy from Southern California." Trump's repeated insistence on the truthfulness of his account has raised questions about whether the incident was a case of mistaken identity or a fabricated story aimed at discrediting Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Although the Trump campaign has yet to comment on the matter, Barbara Res, a former top executive at the Trump Organization, provided additional support to Holden's version of events. In her 2013 book, "All Alone on the 68th Floor," Res corroborated Holden's account, describing the helicopter shaking and the pilot alerting them to the loss of instruments before making the emergency landing. Res also mentioned that Trump himself appeared visibly frightened during the incident.

Holden, upon seeing Trump's remarks about the helicopter incident on television, immediately contacted Brown to inquire if he had indeed been on a helicopter ride with Trump that nearly crashed. Brown denied any involvement, further fueling speculation around the accuracy of Trump's claims.

Holden's presence on the helicopter stemmed from Trump's interest in discussing a potential development project at the historic Ambassador Hotel site in Los Angeles. Despite the mechanical issues and Holdens' anger at the lack of maintenance, the project ultimately faced litigation and never materialized.

The controversy surrounding Trump's claims has not only attracted national and international media attention but has also sparked a debate about the authenticity of his statements. Trump has maintained that he possesses evidence in the form of logs, maintenance records, and witnesses to support his account.

As the debate continues, the conflicting testimonies raise questions about the accuracy of Trump's helicopter ride claims. With multiple individuals involved in the flight, each offering their own perspective, the true nature of the incident remains uncertain.